Sinn Féin election candidate for the Glenties Electoral Area, John Sheamus Ó Fearraigh has welcomed today’s announcement by An Post that they have awarded a temporary contract to the assistant postmistress in Bunbeg Post Office, averting its closure next week.
Mr Ó Fearraigh said: “Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction and is a direct result of the camapign by the local community to have their voices heard on this issue.
“Last month when I organised a public meeting on the potential threat to the post office over 200 people turned out to highlight their concern, with an action committee formed to lobby to retain this post office. Hundreds of locals made submissions to An Post during the consultation period and a petition was signed by over a thousand people.
“This effort of the local community has sparked a review of the case and an extension of the contract to consider the huge volume of correspondence received in support of the retention of the post office, however it is important to note that the future of the Post office remains uncertain.
“The appointment of a temporary postmistress on a three month contract is a welcome development but we must keep the pressure on to ensure that the long term threat that still hangs over this post office is removed.
“I want to commend all of those who rose to the challenge of campaigning to keep our local post office, it is clear that our efforts have not fallen on deaf ears and should act as encouragement for us to continue until the future of the post office is secure.”
